San Diego’s North County encompasses nearly 2,000 square miles spanning from sandy shores and dramatic cliff formations along the coast to gentle rolling hills and valleys leading to mile-high mountain ranges. Amidst this spectacular natural beauty lie charming seaside neighborhoods, major family attractions and historic sites that make North San Diego the perfect destination for fall festivities.
FAIRS, FESTIVALS AND PARADES
- The 35th annual Harvest Festival, Oct. 21 - 23 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, is one of the largest art and gift shows on the U.S. West Coast. The event includes gourmet food samplings, live music, a pumpkin patch and more than 300 artists and craftspeople featuring unique handmade works.
- The laid back and charming beach community of Encinitas along Historic Highway 101 is home to the Encinitas Fall Festival on Nov. 20. Visitors can stroll along the coastal highway and soak up the vintage surf culture while enjoying more than 400 unique booths featuring arts & crafts, children’s rides, two stages of live entertainment and more.
WHERE FINE ART & GOOD FOOD MEET
- On Sept. 10, the San Diego Botanic Gardens in Encinitas hosts an evening of flowers, food, wine and fine art during their 12th Annual Gala in the Garden: A Celebration of Nature, Art & James Hubbell. Guests can soak up beautiful floral designs as they stroll the lush gardens and enjoy live music.
- With many new restaurants opening up this summer and fall in the village of Del Mar, the Taste & Art Stoll on Oct. 2 offers visitors a chance to sample the booming culinary scene in this North County city. The annual event includes offerings from California wineries and local breweries, original artwork by local and regional artists on display, live music, a children’s interactive art area and a pet stroll.
- A unique two-day festival along upper Girard Avenue in the village of La Jolla, the La Jolla Art & Wine Festival on Oct. 1 and 2 showcases over 150 juried fine artists. The festive fair also features the Green Dragon Wine and Beer Garden, live entertainment on the Village Stage, a gourmet marketplace and the Geppetto’s Family Art Center.
MUSICAL MUSINGS
- The surf-fueled city of Oceanside hosts the 10th Annual Oceanside Music Fest from Oct. 12 - 23. The 10-day celebration of music includes "It's Broadway, Baby," an evening of Broadway musical history; “Classical Kaleidescope,” a lighthearted classical concert, and "Global Spirit," an afternoon concert of liturgical music from Gregorian chant through contemporary praise. Complete venue information and concert dates to be announced in August.
CULTURAL EVENTS
- On Oct. 30, the city of Oceanside hosts the 11th Annual Dia de los Muertos celebration at Mission San Luis Rey when the mission grounds transform into a Mexican plaza with thousands of marigolds that create ‘ofrendas’ or altars as memorials. Guests enjoy music, dancing, food booths, a retail mercado and the Chalk Cemetery, an interactive area that allows guests to use flowers, candles and chalk to create a memorial for lost loved ones.
HALLOWEEN HAUNTS
- LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad joins in the Halloween fun every Saturday in October with its annual Brick-or-Treat celebration, featuring a one-of-a-kind, 4-ft. tall LEGO jack-o-lantern. Children ages 12 and under can participate in fun-filled costume contests and trick-or-treat with a souvenir goodie bag along the park’s Brick-or-Treat Trail, featuring a kid-sized cul-de-sac of spooky LEGO homes with fun and creepy creatures.
- More thrills and chills await guests at the Del Mar Fairground's massive Scream Zone, Sept. 24 - Oct. 31, with featured frights including a 3-D ghost maze, 25-room house of horror, haunted hayride and thrilling midway rides.
SPORTING GOOD TIMES
- The 81st Annual La Jolla Rough Water Swim, the largest rough-water swimming competition in the U.S., takes place on Sept. 1 at picturesque La Jolla Cove.
- Professional rodeo cowboys from around the country compete during the 38th Annual Poway Coors Rodeo, Sept. 23 - 24. Guests can watch contestants compete in everything from barrel racing to “mutton bustin.”
MILITARY HERITAGE
- Fleet Week San Diego, Sept. 16 - Oct. 2, is heralded as the largest military appreciation event in the nation and features a variety of events and activities throughout the fall season.
Guests can also enjoy Fleet Week San Diego’s annual MCAS Miramar Air Show, Sept. 30 - Oct. 2, showcasing several types of aircraft, including vintage biplanes, Air Force Thunderbirds, a Navy Super Hornet and numerous stealth fighter jets. Held at the Marine Corps Air Station in inland North County, the event includes simulated combat demonstrations, a Twilight Show with the Great Wall of Fire and a firework grand finale.
Happy happens in San Diego. For more information on San Diego offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau's Web site, www.sandiego.org, or call 619-236-1212. In San Diego, visit the International Visitor Information Center, located along the Embarcadero at the corner of West Broadway and Harbor Drive in downtown; the La Jolla Visitor Center, located at the corner of Herschel Avenue and Prospect Street in La Jolla; or the California Welcome Center, located at the Viejas Outlet Center in Alpine.
Joe Timko 619-557-2812
jtimko@sdcvb.org
Candice Eley 619-557-2889
celey@sdcvb.org
Sarah Weinberg 619-557-2838
sweinberg@sdcvb.org
